risk of statelessness in Belgium.52 On 1 January 2020, there were 1,134 people registered
as “stateless” in the National Registry, including 183 refugees and 951 stateless persons
who have been issued a long-term residence permit. This number includes people who
obtained a residence permit on the basis of statelessness, but also for other reasons (for
example, on grounds of family reunification). 53 On 1 January 2020 there were also
22,518 people registered as having “undetermined nationality” and 2,772 as
“Palestinian authority”, and it is likely that some people in these two categories are
stateless or at risk of statelessness. Figures for the number of asylum seekers registered
as ‘stateless’ are recorded and published monthly in line with Eurostat requirements.
Data on stateless people held in immigration detention is not routinely collected or
published.
UNHCR, Mid-Year Trends 2020, available at: https://www.unhcr.org/statistics/2020MYTannex.zip.
These figures do not accurately represent the total stateless population in Belgium and they reflect the
challenges faced by the authorities in registering people whose nationality cannot be determined at birth, people
without identity documents from their country of origin, and people of Palestinian origin. Many people are not
included in the national registry, for example, those awaiting statelessness determination without a valid
residence permit (or with a permit valid for less than three months), those recognised as stateless without a valid
residence permit, and other stateless people not in any procedure, without a residence permit, or holding a
permit for less than three months.
52
53
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